]]>Jo Dee Messina has released her sophomore single off her upcoming independent album, Me. The sassy, no nonsense track, “A Woman’s Rant,” speaks of the struggles a woman faces with having to spread herself so thin that she just can’t seem to catch up with her own life.

And what makes a cheeky song even better? An accompanying music video! Jo Dee wants to share this music video with fans out there who can relate to this song, so, once again, she is calling on her fans to assist with a project! This music video (similar to how Jo Dee approached her album) will be for the people, by the people, starring the people! So, how can you get involved?

4. After you have sent the e-mail, post your video to Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #womansrant.

If your video is chosen by Jo Dee, your name and a portion of your story will appear in the final video!

What are you waiting for? Get out there, record the craziness of your everyday life and share it with Jo Dee so you can be a part of this special fan-oriented experience. We can’t wait to see your rants!

]]>With one month to go until the release of Jo Dee Messina‘s new album, Me, I am still recovering from the emotional roller coaster that was caused by last week’s featured song, “Say Goodbye to Superman.” To offset the heartbreaking ballad that I had on repeat all last week (okay okay … I was still listening to it this morning), this week the feature songs (yes, plural) are the upbeat “Take It” and “He’s Messed Up.”

“Take It” is a song that, undoubtedly, can be translated into an anthem of freedom for Jo Dee, as she embarks on the new journey of an independent artist. In a true art imitating life moment, Jo Dee sings “I’m breaking free from these chains that bind me; anything that ties me down.” “Take It” is a song about embracing what lies ahead, rather than letting the weight of the world stay on your shoulders. The song teaches a lesson about letting go, looking forward, and hitting the accelerator without hesitation. Drop your convertible top, roll down the windows, crank this song on high as you cruise down the street. Nothing is going to hold you back, and if you have a moment of doubt, let Jo Dee’s words and actions inspire you!

“He’s Messed Up” is a unique song for a very special reason — Jo Dee’s fans were involved in the recording of this track. During the chorus, there are background responses to the lyrics, as well as clapping throughout. The voices and hands you hear belong to fans who donated to the Kickstarter project to produce this album. The message in this song is that, no matter how much you wish someone will change for you, it is inevitable that the person will always remain the same. Jo Dee encourages those who have had the lingering thought of “he will change for me” to put on their walking boots because, to put it simply, “he’s messed up.” You will find yourself bopping your head side to side and/or up and down as you listen to this song that is reminiscent of a No Doubt sound … if Gwen Stefani suddenly acquired a twang. The highlight of this track, other than the cameo by supportive fans, comes early in the second verse, but you will have to pre-order the album and/or follow Jo Dee on Facebook and Twitter to uncover this highlight!

Remember, there are only five weeks left until Me is released. You can pre-order the album now on iTunes and receive two immediate downloads (“Peace Sign” and “A Woman’s Rant“).

]]>We have been raving about Jo Dee Messina and her upcoming album, Me, for several months and wishing time would fast forward so you all could experience this album for yourselves. Today, we welcome you back to Keepin’ It Country with exciting news! There are only six weeks left until the big release, and you can now pre-order the album on iTunes! Upon ordering the album, you will immediately be able to download two songs off of Me – the first single, “Peace Sign,” and the sassy “A Woman’s Rant.” These two catchy, upbeat future hits have the power to tide you over until the March 18th release date!

Twelve spectacular songs for $9.99 and two early downloads … What a perfect way to start your New Music Tuesday!

]]>Country music superstar, Jo Dee Messina, is releasing her next studio album, Me, on March 18, 2014. As you may already know, this album is quite unique in the sense that Jo Dee’s fans played a major role in all aspects of the project, from funding the production to choosing the songs and album title.

Beginning today, we will be counting down the weeks until Jo Dee’s big album release, which symbolizes Jo Dee’s hard work and dedication to her craft, as well as her artistic freedom to release exactly the kind of music she and her fans want. In anticipation of the release, we will provide weekly reviews of each of the twelve tracks off the album, starting today and ending on March 17, 2014.

In the past, we have mentioned three specific songs off Me – “Peace Sign” (which was released to radio), “Me,” and “A Woman’s Rant.” All three of these songs have been performed by Jo Dee during recent shows, each showcasing her effervescent vocals and timelessness as a country music artist.

“Peace Sign,” which is a quirky, tongue-in-cheek song about being blindsided with a breakup when you thought the relationship was on the right track, exemplifies Jo Dee’s precious personality and fun-loving sense of humor, while proving that the Grammy nominee still has “it.” We have said it before and we will say it again, Jo Dee is back with a vengeance and an album to back it up, and if you don’t believe she is here for the long haul, well, we’re “just saying goodbye one finger shy of the peace sign.”

“Me,” the title track on the album, is a ballad about the struggles of trying to be everybody’s everything and the fear that you aren’t enough to accomplish that daunting task. During our October 2013 interview with Jo Dee, we were lucky enough to get a short serenade of this heartfelt track. Jo Dee sang, “I’m somebody’s daughter, I’m somebody’s friend, a shoulder to lean on no matter when. I’m somebody’s teacher when they don’t understand. I’ve got a seat in the bleachers, I’m the world’s biggest fan … I wish I was half the woman I’ve gotta be. I wish I had all the answers right in front of me. I’m everything to everyone and I’m scared as I can be ’cause when I look into the mirror, all I see is me.” This song speaks to those who feel they are pulled in many different directions and aren’t sure how much longer they can be everything to everyone. Jo Dee’s incomparable ability to emote through her music is evident in this track and her vocals are reminiscent of her “Bring On the Rain” days. Veteran Jo Dee fans and new fans alike will have this track on repeat.

“A Woman’s Rant” is a song that we absolutely loved when we heard Jo Dee perform it in December at her Miami show. This track is a recipe for success, with a pure country base, a heaping helping of powerful vocals, a dollop of hilarity, and a dash of feminism. This song will make you smirk, and the smirk won’t leave your face until the second Jo Dee lets out a snarky laugh at the end, at which point you will find yourself laughing alongside her.

These three tracks, which have been introduced to the public during various performances, are at the heart of the album and accompanied by nine other songs, each with as much radio potential as the track before it. Any country music fan will enjoy “Peace Sign,” “Me,” and “A Woman’s Rant,” and appreciate Jo Dee’s salute to a classic country sound with a modern attitude to boot.

Stay tuned for our next track review Monday, and remember, there are SEVEN WEEKS until the release of Me! We assure you, it is well worth the wait!